It takes a lot of guts to get up and perform songs you wrote, but the true test of an entertainer is whether or not he or she can work the spotlight beyond the music. Here are several artists who we fully believe could fall back on a career in stand-up if the music doesn’t pan out for them. In all instances, that probably won’t happen. But one can hope.
1. Ezra Koenig, of recent Grammy-winning band Vampire Weekend, swats Rolling Stone journalists around like flies on the regular, and has a Twitter account full of priceless timebombs. A recent sampling:
roman girls - they’ll leave u in ruins, neapolitan girls - they’ll do u 3 flavors of dirty, venetian girls - they’ll rob u blind? idk fuk it
- Ezra Koenig (@arzE)November 14, 2013
when the flight attendant asks what u wanna drink: slowly turn ur head, lower ur sunglasses and say “milk shake” in a Russian accent
- Ezra Koenig (@arzE)March 27, 2013
text all day, IRL all night - that’s how u treat a woman right
- Ezra Koenig (@arzE)January 20, 2014
I once received a text asking if I’d ever read Swann’s Way. I went to the library, read it in one painful sitting & texted back “ya why?”
- Ezra Koenig (@arzE)January 2, 2014
2. From her twitter account, aptly named ‘Pixie aka {grimez}’ Claire Boucher drops odd bits and pieces of information- and the world is a better place because of it.
Seals are one of the cutest animals because they are the animal that most closely resembles a sausage
- Pixie aka {grimez} (@Grimezsz)January 12, 2014
I went to the ear doctor today and he found sparkles in my ear, I feel like he thinks I’m weird
- Pixie aka {grimez} (@Grimezsz)January 15, 2014
if i encounter tequila tonight ill sing the jigglypuff song on stage
- Pixie aka {grimez} (@Grimezsz)December 31, 2013
3. Matt Nathanson of the infamously sweet voice and love songs, has some great bits on hand that he’s been known to test out in between songs. Hey, it’s the effort that counts.
4. Neko Case: can sing like a badass; is also a hoot on the interweb.
Also, stop shopping, quit Christmas. Lets just make each other toast, tea and coffee, say nice stuff to each other and call it good? #Butter
- Neko Case (@NekoCase)December 13, 2013
My post-2 orders of French fries Kermit the frog belly.. pic.twitter.com/rseWC53Xjs
- Neko Case (@NekoCase)January 29, 2014
5. Father John Misty aka Josh Tillman went through a relatively uneventful period as former Fleet Fox and solo artist before finally embracing his inner spirit animal. At which point the world gained a fine new album, entertainer and most importantly, an excellent new fragrance (Innocence by Misty) for young women.